SHAUN McKernan says he is far better placed to forge a successful AFL career second time around.
McKernan joined Essendon in last year's rookie draft after being delisted by Adelaide at the end of 2014.
The former Calder Cannon played 34 games in six seasons at West Lakes, including just two in his final season.
McKernan told AFL.com.au he was determined to make a better fist of his career at Essendon and finally felt ready to establish himself as a regular senior player.
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"Obviously, getting delisted and probably getting told that you're not good enough stings you a fair bit," McKernan said.
"I wanted to prove a fair few people wrong when I came to Essendon.
"The people I've worked with here have been really good and all the boys have been really open and have made me part of the group, so it's been pretty easy to fit in."
McKernan was one of the Dons' better players in their 38-point loss to Hawthorn on Saturday.
Playing in the ruck, he had 21 possessions, 18 hit-outs, five marks (three contested) and kicked 1.1.
It was McKernan's second game for the Bombers following his club debut in round seven against North Melbourne.
Despite strong form, the former Crow had spent the rest of the year in the VFL as Essendon preferred Tom Bellchambers in the No.1 ruck spot.
However, McKernan was unavailable for selection when the Bombers dropped Bellchambers for their round 11 clash with West Coast as he was back on the rookie list, forced to return there when Jason Winderlich came off the long-term injury list.
This meant key-position player Jake Carlisle was forced to handle the ruck duties against West Coast.
Carlisle understandably found himself out of his depth against Eagles star Nic Naitanui, so when Bellchambers was diagnosed with a long-term foot injury soon after, Essendon elevated McKernan ahead of the Hawthorn clash.
Hird praised McKernan's performance against the Hawks in his post-match press conference and lamented the fact he had been unavailable for selection against the Eagles.
The Bombers coach said he agreed with a recent proposal by St Kilda coach Alan Richardson that the rookie list be abolished so that a club can field a single senior list.
McKernan said it had been "pretty rewarding" to perform well on his return against the Hawks but acknowledged it had been frustrating to go back to the rookie list.
"When 'Licca' (Winderlich) came back from injury there was pretty much nothing I could do about it," McKernan said.
"It's frustrating, you know you're playing good footy (in the VFL) you've just got to keep ticking the boxes each week, knowing you're not going to get picked.
"But when I went back (to the rookie list) I was just focused on playing good footy and hoped that when the time came I would get elevated again.
"It was good just to get back out there today and know that I can still play at the level.
"Obviously it would have been better it we'd had a win, but it was probably that 15-minute patch in the third quarter when we lost our way a bit at clearances and let them win a bit of loose footy that hurt us."
